MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 
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oval-oblong in form. The Isabel was obtained about 1816, from a sowing of the seeds of Yitis labrusca. 
Muscat Jesus. —Thirty-four plants raised from this, have borne fruit. If we except the Chasselas Musque, this 
white Muscat has been hitherto among the first to come to maturity ; but there has just been obtained from seed 
one which ripens ten or twelve days before it. The Muscat Jesus, though very good, has the defect of cracking 
when nearly ripe. The variety obtained appears to be free from this defect. In the greater number of plants 
raised from the seed of the Muscat Jesus, the musky flavour is not perceptible, in others it is very faint, except 
in extreme maturity. The berry varies very much in form and size, always white, and inclined to crack. The 
Muscat Jesus is known under four or five different names. Muscat Caillaba , like most other Muscats when raised 
from seed, in part loses its musky flavour, and presents a great variety of foliage; four white kinds have been 
obtained, but they are late, and have little of the musky flavour common to the type. One of the most desirable 
has the leaves much cut, with the berries larger than in the Caillaba; the bunches are very handsome, and 
rather later than the Muscat noir d’Angers, but earlier by ten or fifteen days than the common Muscat noir. 
There have also been obtained from this sowing, two plants of Muscat noir hative.— Ann. de la Soc. Centrale 
de Uort. de France. 
On Flant Potting. —The organic part of plants generally amounts to about nine-tenths of their whole bulk; and 
as this matter is chiefly produced from, and through the influence of, atmospheric air and water, and these being 
largely extracted by their roots as well as by their leaves, it points to the propriety of having the soil in a con¬ 
dition to allow an unimpeded access of these gases to the roots of plants. For some years I have used nothing but 
turfg loam for the various purposes of potting, suiting it to different plants by the addition of charcoal, pebbles, 
and sand,—being guided in the proportion of these latter substances by the n'ature of the roots and general habit 
of growth; and as by the judicious application of manure water, when and where requisite, I obtain, through 
simple means, all the advantages that can be derived by the use of the various mixtures recommended under the 
name of composts, I therefore look upon these, in many cases, minute proportionals of different soils and manures, 
as being altogether unnecessary. There is by far too little importance attached to the aeration of soils; by bring¬ 
ing them in contact with air both the mineral and vegetable ingredients are decomposed, their latent powers of 
action drawn out, and rendered directly available for the purposes of vegetation. Hence the advantages of 
trenching and subsoiling, the freezing and pulverizing of soils; and though it is impossible, in the present state of 
knowledge, to trace all the operations of the various agents that are daily producing changes in the animal, 
vegetable, and mineral systems, we know that in the absence of air and moisture, substances may remain un¬ 
changed ; but under their combined influence, the most imperishable must ultimately succumb. In collecting soil 
for potting, I prefer turves cut from a dry pasture, secured in dry weather, and piled in a heap until wanted for 
use. If these have been procured from soil of a retentive, adhesive nature, it can be corrected by the addition of 
sand, charcoal, &e. Charcoal is both a chemical and a mechanical agent. Its value as a manure is derived from 
its property of absorbing moisture and various gases—particularly ammonia. A celebrated chemist says: u Char¬ 
coal is capable of being used with advantage in abstracting the ammoniacal and other salts, which gives its value 
to the liquid of farm-yards. Experiment has shown that when filtered through a bed of charcoal the liquid escapes 
without colour, and almost without taste, while the charcoal is itself converted into fertilizing manure.” Such is 
the theory of its action ; and its practical efficacy has been sufficiently proved to rank it as a valuable ingredient 
in soils. The heap should be frequently turned over, to expose every part of it to the influence of the weather, 
and preserve it in a healthy state; and that it may be of easy access during winter, it should be kept under cover 
and always used in as rough a state as the size of the pots will conveniently allow. In the first place, the pots 
should be thoroughly clean and dry ; and as complete and efficient drainage is indispensable, the material used for 
this purpose should be in quantity corresponding to the size of the pot. Broken pots, or crocks , as they are gen¬ 
erally termed, are most in use; but charcoal, bones, bricks—broken up—or small stones, will answer this purpose 
equally as well. When the pots are large, a good system is to invert a small pot in the bottom, filling the space 
between it and the side of the pot with the drainage. A plant should not be potted when it is very dry, nor 
when soaked with wet. If in the former case, it is very likely to remain so, as the water will pass through the 
fresh soil without penetrating into the old ball of earth ; and if in the latter state, it is not in a very good condi¬ 
tion to be surrounded with an additional layer of earth. When the roots are thickly interwoven they should be 
carefully disengaged, that they may be spread out into the fresh soil; but in shifting young, healthy, growing plants 
with the roots just reaching the side of the pot, they should not be disturbed, as it is important to preserve the 
smaller fibres, upon whose action the health of the plants chiefly depends. In cases when the plant is unhealthy 
and the roots in unfavourable soil, or in repotting deciduous plants that have been kept in a state of rest during 
winter, the ball of earth should be broken up and nearly all shaken out, that the young roots may at once enter 
the fresh soil. It is also necessary to examine the stem, in order to guard against deep planting. The ordinary 
advice—“ Never plant deeper than before/' is well enough, provided it was not deep planted before. But this is too 
frequently the case to be passed over in this way ; and when plants are raised from cuttings, they must necessarily 
be deeper planted when young than is consistent with their future welfare ; the soil should be cleared away until 
the base of the stem is level with the surface. I have seen valuable plants lost through neglect in this respect, 
even after they had attained considerable size. It is necessary, especially in potting hard-wooded plants, to make 
the soil moderately firm. It should not, however, be rammed , but rather fitted in, spreading the roots into the 
fresh soil, finishing off with a level surface, and leaving sufficient space for watering.— Horticulturist. 
